Homer Nine and Sons, Inc. Homer Nine and Sons, Inc.
724-241-8698
Top

Summer AC Mistakes

Woman in home with fan

Summer has started and the temperatures are rising, which means your instinct is telling you to crank up your air conditioning to keep your family comfortable.

Before you work your AC into needing repairs, make sure you avoid these common summer AC mistakes.

Running your AC

Running your AC all the time during the summer can quickly rack up the energy bill. This seems to keep your space cool but it is a huge waste of energy.

When no one is home, or no one is using the space, turn the thermostat up to conserve energy, save money, and reduce the effects it may have on your system.

Not Using Fans

If your home has house fans, use them. All types of fans can help reduce the toll the summer heat has on your AC.

Using fans can help circulate air through your home, making it cooler without wasting energy. It can also help take away some of the burdens off of your air conditioner.

Remember to have your fans spinning counterclockwise during the summer to help push cool air down to the floor.

Forgetting to Change Your Air Filters

When was the last time you changed your air filter? Forgetting to change your air filter can affect the functionality of your system, which can be more prevalent during the summer.

Dirty air filters can also affect the indoor air quality of your home.

Ignoring your Indoor Air Quality

Your indoor air quality is important to your health. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the levels of indoor air pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels.

In the summer, it is possible for your allergen levels to be higher.

Ignoring IAQ can result in symptoms such as constant headaches, throat irritation, allergies, respiratory congestion, eye infections, nosebleeds, nausea, or increased presence of existing conditions, such as asthma.

You can improve your IAQ by installing devices that automatically clean your air.

Ignoring Signs of AC Problems

When you overwork your air conditioning, it is common to notice increasing issues.

Signs your AC needs to be repaired or replaced include:

  • Your system’s age, if it’s over 10 years old it probably needs to be replaced.

  • Odors coming from your ducts or ductless system

  • Increasing energy bills

  • Unit is making loud or startling noises

Ignoring issues with your AC can cause a major headache as the temperatures rise. It can also cause your AC system’s life expectancy to become shorter or produce more issues.

Emergency issues can be unexpected, but ignoring those can also cause more trouble.

Placement of your Unit

If you are installing a new unit it is important to avoid installing it in an area with direct sunlight. This is the same for thermostats, they would be away from any heat sources inside the home.

If your AC unit is already installed and is in direct sunlight, it may be costing you in energy loss.

Your placement of your AC is important for you to know, just in case the system is obstructed by debris.

If you think your AC system is obstructed by a branch, leaves, or other debris, take a look at the system and clear the debris as soon as possible.

Professional and Emergency Maintenance

Have you had your AC manual tune-up completed? Investing in yearly maintenance can prevent costly repairs or replacements. Call a professional to check your system, even if you think it is running perfectly.

Homer Nine and Sons, Inc., are experts within the Cranberry Township, Pennsylvania area and can provide top-notch assistance for all your HVAC needs. Call us at (724) 241-8698 for all your HVAC needs!